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Masafumi Gotoh後藤正文
Masafumi Gotoh in 2017
Background information
Also known as	Gotch
Born	(1976-12-02) December 2, 1976 (age 48) Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan
Genres	Alternative rock art rock indie rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter musician producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Ki/oon Tofu only in dreams
Website	Sony OID

Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling. Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck. He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me. He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).

In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams. In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost". In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo. In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics. In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and build a studio called "Music inn Fujieda" in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians. In March 2024, Gotoh released drone/ambient music album Recent Report I under his original name.

Discography

Asian Kung-Fu Generation

Solo

Studio albums (as Gotch)

Studio albums (as Masafumi Gotoh)

Live albums

Extended plays

Singles

Other

• New Order – Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005) lyrics on "Krafty (Japanese Version)"
• Dr. Downer – Rising (2011) music director
• Special Others – Special Others (2011) collaboration on "Dance in Tsurumi"
• Feeder – Generation Freakshow Japanese edition (2012) vocals on "Idaho"
• Chatmonchy – "Kirakira Hikare" (2012) producer; vocals on "Karisomethod"
• Chatmonchy – Henshin (2012) producer on "Yes or No or Love" and "Kirakira Hikare"
• Dr. Downer – Gensō no Maboroshi (2013) producer
• The Chef Cooks Me – Kaitentai (2013) producer, vocals on "Kanjōsen wa Bokura o Nosete"
• ART-SCHOOL – YOU (2014) producer
• Ovall - "Nadaraka Yoru" (2018) vocals
• The Mattson 2 – Vaults of Eternity: Japan (2018) vocals on "My Memories Fade"
• Co.Ruri Mito - MeMe (2019) music producer
• Nahavand – Vandalism (2019) producer, vocals on "Hold On"
• The Chef Cooks Me – "Kakato de Ai o Uchinarase" (2019) vocals
• SOFTTOUCH – "Jiyū Ishi" (2019) producer
• Aiha Higurashi – "Je t'aime" (2019) producer
• Aiha Higurashi – "Shining all over" (2019) vocals
• Manami Konishi – Cure (2020) producer and backing vocals on "Endless Summer", producer on "Ain't Nobody Know"
• FIRE EX. – "The Light" (2020) vocals
• Moment Joon – "Doukutsu" (2020) vocals
• The Rentals – "Goodbye, Steve" (2020) vocals
• SOCCER*SCHOOL - "last summer bleeze" (2021) mixing
• Moment Joon – "Distance" (2021) vocals
• Hironoi Momoi – "Fog" (2021) vocal, lyrics
• Lil Boom – "The End of the World" (2021) vocals
• Nahavand – "World Trigger"' (2022) recording
• Yuragi – For you, Adroit it but soft : Remixes & Rarities (2022) mastering
• The Tiva – On This Planet (2022) mastering
• Mofution Vibration – "Oboroge" (2022) mixing, mastering
• Dhira Bongs – A Tiny Bit of Gold in The Dark Ocean (2022) vocals on "Make Me Fallin In Love Again"
• Link – Tsuki no Hana EP (2023) producer, recording, mixing
• Jared Mattson – Peanut (2023) vocals on "Koko ni Kite"
• Kanjani Eight – "Ikiteru Bokura" (2023) songwriter
• Takehisa Chiba – "Spacewalker" (2023) vocals, vocals engineer, mixing
• Link – Taiyou to Tsuki no Beatniks (2023) producer, recording, mixing
• A Flood of Circle – Candle Songs (2024) producer on "Candle Songs"
• Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Ryusui" (2024) co-producer, recording, mixing, mastering; guitar and chorus on "Ryusui"; lyrics, vocal, guitar, and programming on "Ryusui Remix"
• Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Takibi" (2024) co-producer, recording, mastering

References

1. "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography". ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Official Website. Ki/oon Records Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
2. Kao, Larry (2005-11-03). "Talkin Bout My (Asian Kung-Fu) Generation". Asian Pacific Arts. UCLA Asia Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
3. Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fansite Flash Back! - Profile Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Vo.ゴッチの日記". Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
5. "Archived copy". skeletonsman.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "Gotch | only in dreams".
7. "Gotch Profile". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
8. "Gotch of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION to Embark on Solo Tour This May". jpopasia. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
9. "6月8日に新しいアルバム「Good New Times」が発売になりました。" (in Japanese). Gotch. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
10. "アジカン後藤正文が音楽支援を行うNPO法人創立「何度でもチャレンジできる場所を目指す」" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
11. "Masafumi Gotoh released his first drone/ambient album "Recent Report I"". Kyodo News. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
12. ^ "後藤正文 オリコン". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2018.
13. "「Can't Be Forever Young」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
14. "「Good New Times」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
15. "「Lives By The Sea」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
16. "「Recent Report I」後藤正文". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
17. "「Live in Tokyo」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
18. "後藤と東郷". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

External links

• Masafumi Gotoh discography at Discogs
• Discography at RateYourMusic
• Only in Dreams label
• Asian Kung-Fu Generation

• 1976 births
• Living people
• Japanese rock guitarists
• Japanese male rock singers
• Japanese male songwriters
• Asian Kung-Fu Generation members
• Kanto Gakuin University alumni
• 20th-century Japanese guitarists
• 21st-century Japanese guitarists
• Singers from Shizuoka Prefecture
• People from Shimada, Shizuoka